To want to talk to anyone who knows anything about exploding arses?

[Tropicana]

After reading about MorningPaper's issues with her exploding arse, I have come to the conclusion that this is EXACTLY what happened to me just after giving birth 5 years ago.

As far as I am aware, the issue went completely undiagnosed at the time (despite several post-birth trips to the GP) but the questions now in my head are:

1. Should someone have told me about my arse exploding at the time of the birth?

2. If so, should they then have gone on to do something about it?

3. I still suffer a weakness in this area 5 yrs later. Is this normal?

4. I am currently pregnant again. Do I need to inform current health care providers of suspected undiagnosed exploding arse in previous birth?

5. Is it likely to explode again?

Any advice much appreciated

Are you talking anal fissures Tropicana? I didn't quite establish if that was what MP meant in her thread.

If anal fissures:

1. Don't know

1. I would have thought you would have felt the need to do something about it.

1. I suffer from the condition 13 years on, but only very rarely.

1. Don't know

1. I got mine after having ds1 (traumatic, assisted birth). I was fine after my other 3 children who all had much easier births.

If you are not talking anal fissure, ignore the above!

I think we are on the same wavelength Dumbledoresgirl!

Thank you for your honest answers!

My first birth was also long, traumatic and assisted.

May I ask how come, if you say that you still suffer from it on rare occasions even now 13 yrs on, you managed to give birth post-exploding arse without that causing a recurrence?

I was kind of under the impression that if the odd, rare and exceptionally large piece of poo will still cause a relapse, then the delivery of a baby will ceratinly do it. Am I wrong then?

Oooh I don't know. I haven't heard that, but I don't mean to imply it is untrue, just that it wasn't true in my case.

You are right though in that occasional large hard poos (sorry for tmi) can start it off again - though I suppose they could in anybody?

I had an episiotomy with ds1 and forceps delivery and beforehand I was in the 2nd stage of labour for nearly 2 hours, pushing and pushing to get him out. I always assumed that the fissure occurred sometime then. With my other 3, labour was unassisted and the pushing stage probably lasted 20 mins max with each baby.

Your 1st birth sound remarkably similar to mine, I must say!

I also had a (quite large) episiotomy after around 2 hours of pushing. Dd was in the back-to-back- position and was getting distressed so was delivered by ventouse.

Glad to hear that subsequent births did not manage to re-ignite the explosion though. Gives me some hope!!!!

Yes ds1 was also back to back. Apparently it is quite common in first births - something they keep quiet about when you are first pg I felt.

I have to admit, it never occurred to me that the fissure would come back after subsequent births, although it makes sense that it might. Try to think positively about it as it is bad enough when it happens without worrying about it beforehand too.

Although I sense you are hoping there is something that can be done to stop you getting a repeat result?

I wonder if perhaps you'd be interested in The Ragged Bits Thread - support for sphincter injuries and fistulae?

I have just "graduated" from this thread, so to speak - wonderful advice and support, for current problems and future births. It's a bit long now but if you skim through it, that's probably enough.

Good luck, hope to see you there.

1. Should someone have told me about my arse exploding at the time of the birth?

It's probably such a bloody ragged mess around the whole AREA that no one would notice, to be honest.

2. If so, should they then have gone on to do something about it?

Yes, once you had been to the GP you should have got some decent advice. I was referred to a consultant and put forward for surgery. then I read what surgery involved, so I just lived on drugs and figs instead...

3. I still suffer a weakness in this area 5 yrs later. Is this normal?

Yes I would imagine so - once you've had an anal fissure, they seem to recur quite easily once you do a 'normous hard turd.

4. I am currently pregnant again. Do I need to inform current health care providers of suspected undiagnosed exploding arse in previous birth?

Nah, I wouldn't worry about it.

5. Is it likely to explode again?

Mine exploded with both births yes, although the second time I was better prepared, so it healed more quickly and I was less traumatised (although I still fainted while doing poos occasionally).

My tip is: VASELINE on your ringpiece a few minutes before doing a poo - try to smear it inside a little too, if you can bear it. Wait for it to warm up a little, and then hope it has a smooth passage... That helped me with the pain and healing.

Sorry, morningpaper, I disagree with your Point #4 - Tropicana, I really think you should let your HCP's know what happened to your bits in your last birth and ask their advice for this one.

Not too sure about exploding arses but I had a baby over 10lbs ventouse, epesiotomy and 3rd degree tear (altho wasn't told it was 3rd degree tear until booking appt with no. 2 over 2 years later). Was sewn up with inadequate anaesthetic in situ after the birth. Afterwards i had 'urgency' leading to many hilarious situations and at times would say I was incontinent (poo wise). What worked brilliantly for me was 'biofeedback'. Basically this potty-trained my brain by sticking (small) balloons up my bum in various stages of inflation, whilst I did excercises which I could respond to/carry out with the help of a nice lady and p.c. type monitor. It changed my life and was especially welcome after being told that I had IBS, needed Fibogel etc.etc. Don't suffer in silence and don't be put off by the description I have just given. Technically it might be embarrassing but nowhere near as bad as pooing your pants in public and you have to remember that people working in this area do it everyday. The nurse I had said people would accost her in the street and that she found it hard to recognise them if she couldn't see their bum! Good luck. p.s. My situation was not complicated by pelvic floor issues - sex and weeing fine.